Blaze was started by bonfire

2:36pm Monday 30th July 2007

Outbuildings and a car were destroyed in a blaze accidentally started by a neighbour's bonfire.

Firefighters prevented the flames spreading to a nearby house on Brow Top Road, Haworth.

The call out has prompted a warning from the fire service to follow commonsense guidelines when lighting a bonfire.

Keighley firefighter Joe O'Keeffe said the fire was started by a blazing ember from a neighbour's bonfire.

Three fire engines from Haworth and Keighley contained the blaze after the alarm was raised at 6.40pm on Sunday.

Mr O'Keeffe said a range of outbuildings used for storage were well alight when the crews arrived.

A brisk breeze fanned the flames and the fire was fierce.

All the outbuildings and a car were destroyed.

Later that night, the Keighley crew was called out to two separate bonfires in the town after concerned residents called the fire service.

Neither fire was out of control but Mr O'Keeffe said people must call the Environment Agency and the fire service if they are lighting a bonfire.

"If people wanting to burn rubbish let us know where and when they are lighting a fire it will stop us being called out unnecessarily by anyone seeing the flames," he said.

And he praised the many local builders who call with details of the waste material they are about to burn.

Mr O'Keeffe also urged people not to light fires anywhere near property.

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